TORONTO, Canada — Billy Kennerly already has a spot in next week's U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club. The Canadian Amateur winner receives an automatic exemption into the event, but Kennerly, with a four-shot lead, will be looking simply for the prestige of winning — and a chance to play in a PGA Tour event.

Kennerly, the graduated Clemson University golfer, fired 69 on day three, after consecutive rounds of 68 to open the event, to take a commanding four-shot lead into Thursday's final round at Weston Golf & Country Club. The winning player will join PGA Tour professionals at next year's RBC Canadian Open.

Patrick Murphy of Canada is four shots behind, while first and second-round co-leader Ben Eccles of Australia is in third place five back. Both Murphy and Eccles do not yet have a spot at Olympia Fields.

Tragically, Eccles made a quadruple-bogey on his final hole of the day. Otherwise, he would be within just one of Kennerly heading to tomorrow's final round.

National Championship of the Royal Canadian
Golf Associtation, the governing body of golf in
Canada, representing close to 300,000
members nationwide.

In addition to
providing core services such as the Rules of
Golf, handicapping, support of turfgrass and
environmental research, and BMO Financial
Group Future Links, Canada's national junior
golf program, the RCGA also conducts Canada's
most prestigious golf championships. The Bell
Canadian Open and BMO Financial Group
Canadian Women's Open attract the best
professional golfers in the world, while six
regional junior championships, nine national
amateur championships and the BMO Financial
Group Canadian Women's Tour showcase the
best of Canadian golf.

Starting in 2008, the format of the tournament
has changed from match play to 72 holes of
stroke play.